Shakira confirmed her romantic relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique

BOGOTA: Colombian pop star Shakira on Tuesday confirmed her romantic relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique through a message on her Twitter account.

"I present to you my sunshine ... Shak," the 34-year-old singer wrote in the message accompanying a photo of the smiling pair
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Shakira and the 24-year-old Barcelona center-back became the focus of intense media attention earlier this month when gossip magazines published photographs of the couple holding hands and kissing in Barcelona.

In January, Shakira announced the end of her 11-year relationship with Antonio de la Rua of Argentina.

Shakira's wildly popular "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" was the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, won by Spain.

Pique, a member of the World Cup team, told a March 3 press conference at Barca's training center that he prefers to just talk football.

Quizzed on his private life, he said: "I'd like it if people only talked about me from a sporting perspective but I get the impression that, ultimately, it's inevitable."